According to reports from El Gol Digital, Manchester City are keen on Athletic Bilbao defender Unai Nunez. They billed him as a January target but it must be said that with so little of the transfer window remaining, a deal at this point seems rather unlikely.
Nonetheless, Football Fancast sought out the opinions of those who know him best to gauge whether he’d be a good fit at the Etihad…
Kuko Ziganda, former Bilbao coach
It was Ziganda who first promoted the emerging talent into the Bilbao first team reckoning and following an immediate and impressive impact his decision was proven to be a shrewd one.
Speaking at various press conferences he routinely failed to hide his delight at the youngster’s accelerating development. As per InsideAthletic.com here and here:
“He is the joy of the year because he plays with a spark and with ambition. You can see that every day in training.”
“If he is on the field it’s because we believe he’s going to do things well. I know what he’s capable of and he can still play better. That doesn’t mean we’re not happy with him. I’m very pleased with his performances.”
Inigo Martinez, Bilbao team-mate
Having established himself as a ball-playing but resilient defender for Los Leones, international recognition duly arrived last September for Nunez with a first full cap for Spain. Ahead of a comfortable 4-0 win over the Faroe Islands club team-mate Martinez was keen to suggest the recognition was wholly warranted. As per Athletic Club:
‘He deserves it because every time he has played he has done it wonderfully. He is a teammate with whom I spend a lot of time in the changing room and I’m very happy that he has been called and that he has been able to make his debut.”
Gaizka Garitano – Athletic Bilbao coach
As the transfer whispers loudened Garitano felt compelled recently to state the club’s position on their star man. In doing so he revealed a good deal about his admiration for the Basque-born centre-half.
As per InsideAthletic.com
“He’s an important player for us, a player for the present and future of the club and it’s in his hands to stay. We’ll see. I hope he stays because we don’t want to lose a player of such value to us.”
Verdict
The last occasion Manchester City shopped in Bilbao they picked up Aymeric Laporte for a club record fee. That too was in January, with the defender swiftly improving the Blues’ status at the back. There is no reason to believe that history cannot be repeated here.